This effect is driving me crazy!

Vysionous

There is that HDR like effect that I have been trying to hunt for some time now, I've came a bit close, but still very far in my eyes from the true effect. Its always used by extremely good photographers like http://www.timtadder.com/

Now does anyone have the secret to such effect? Is it plain Shadow/Highlights with multiple layers or top? Can anyone help over here? I know thats the place to ask.

PS. I've very good with photoshop myself, so you can be extremely advanced and technical explaining your approach to such effect.

Thanks in advance.

pathfinder

I, certainly, do not know the full extent of how his shots are created and edited.

But he has a great deal of excellent work and much of his images are captured with careful cross lighting, or with multiple well snooted speedlites, and even some ringlites.

His work has been commented on here

His website - http://www.timtadder.com/

Tim is looking for a PhotoShop Stud also - http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/10/tim-tadder-seeks-photoshop-stud.html Salary is ~$40K - So they will need to know their chops!


Llewellyn has written an excellent tutorial on a "Dave Hill" kind of post processing that in some ways is similar to some of Tadder's images - http://www.theoriginalblackcat.com/gallery/5815459_Avfqt/1

I look forward to someone who can give us the full answer to your question.

LiquidAir

Part of the trick is lighting. If you look, most of his portraits no conventional main light. Rather they have two or even three rim lights and a fill light from the front. My guess is the key to getting that effect is lighting properly followed by some medium radius USM in Photoshop to punch up the details.

Nikolai

It's one of the offsprings of the famous dragan effect, more like the movie "300". There are plenty tutes and actions, both free and paid.
Here's one:
http://denmuel.blogspot.com/2007/08/photoshop-dragan-effect-like-in-300.html
HTH

OffTopic

Vysionous,

Tim Tadder himself posted a little about his technique over the at the strobist discussion on flickr. (What better source? )

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157602340488271

He doesn't give away all his secrets , like LiquidAir says it's mostly in the lighting (seven or more sources, mostly hard light, reflectors to boost specular highlights), and says a big part of his processing is sharpening with contrast masks. Make sure you scroll down the page and read all of his responses.

But if the light isn't right to start with, no amount of post will work the magic.

Hope that helps a little.

Vysionous

OffTopic wrote:

Vysionous,

Tim Tadder himself posted a little about his technique over the at the strobist discussion on flickr. (What better source? )

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157602340488271

He doesn't give away all his secrets , like LiquidAir says it's mostly in the lighting (seven or more sources, mostly hard light, reflectors to boost specular highlights), and says a big part of his processing is sharpening with contrast masks. Make sure you scroll down the page and read all of his responses.

But if the light isn't right to start with, no amount of post will work the magic.

Hope that helps a little.

Offtopic, that was great of you, thanks! His lighting is truly magical. I'm still damn sure there's more to that post processing work though